Synopsis
Sponsored by the Alfred Mizzi Foundation. The French military engineer and Hospitaller Antoine Etienne de Tousard (1751-1813) was summoned to Malta by Grand Master de Rohan in 1791, at a very critical time when both the Order of St John and France were greatly affected by the upheavals of the French Revolution. Despite his novel contribution to Malta’s military architecture, a legacy in stone known as Fort Tigné, Tousard has come down in history as one of the traitors to the Order of St John together with Bosredon Ransijat, Louis-Ovide Doublet, Antoine René Bardonnenche and Charles du Fay among others. This lecture will present a detailed study on the identity of the Order of St John’s last military engineer, his military contributions to Malta and whether the accusation of treason to the Order of St John, which tarnished his honour, was indeed one such (or possibly ‘well founded’).
Speaker: Fleur Brincat
The Military Engineer Fra Antoine Etienne de Tousard (1751-1813): A Loyal Hospitaller or Traitor?
Speaker: Fleur Brincat
Biagio Steps, The Fortress Builders, Valletta
The Military Engineer Fra Antoine Etienne de Tousard (1751-1813): A Loyal Hospitaller or Traitor?